Iraq jihadists slow Tikrit advance with bombs and snipersIraqi forces closed in on Tikrit Tuesday, their progress slowed by jihadist snipers and booby traps, on the second day of Baghdad's largest operation yet against the Islamic State group. The government has mobilised a 30,000-strong force for the push to retake Tikrit made up of Shiite militiamen and Sunni tribesmen as well as troops and police. Iraqi forces are moving on Tikrit from three directions, with units targeting the towns of Al-Alam and Ad-Dawr to the north and south, while another large contingent drives from the east. The jihadist group announced in a radio bulletin Tuesday that a US national from its ranks had carried out a suicide attack against Iraqi forces near Samarra, the other main city in Salaheddin province.

Jury selected to hear Boston Marathon bombing trialBy Scott Malone BOSTON (Reuters) - The jury that will hear the trial of accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was selected on Tuesday on the eve of opening statements. The jury selection process began in early January when more than 1,350 potential jurors filled out questionnaires on their ties to the attack and their views on the death penalty.

Andrew Lack in talks to return to NBCNEW YORK (AP) — NBC Universal is in talks to bring back Andrew Lack to its troubled news operation, which would be the first high-level shake-up following several rough months culminating in the six-month suspension of "Nightly News" anchor Brian Williams for misleading viewers about his experiences covering the Iraq War.

Israel's Netanyahu warns Obama against Iran nuclear dealBy Dan Williams and Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday against accepting a nuclear deal with Iran that would be a "countdown to a potential nuclear nightmare" by a country that "will always be an enemy of America". "If the deal now being negotiated is accepted by Iran, that deal will not prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons - it will all but guarantee that Iran will get those nuclear weapons, lots of them," the Israeli leader said in a 39-minute speech to the U.S. Congress that offered a point-by-point critique of Obama's Iran diplomacy.

Thousands evacuated as Chile volcano eruptsA volcano in southern Chile erupted early Tuesday, spewing fiery plumes of lava into the night sky and forcing the evacuation of some 3,600 people from nearby towns. In its first major eruption in 15 years, the Villarrica volcano, one of Chile's most active, began spewing lava and ash around 3:00 am (0600 GMT), prompting authorities to declare a red alert, the National Emergency Office said. "It's an active volcano, but at this point it has calmed down," said President Michelle Bachelet after flying into the region for an emergency meeting with local officials. Bachelet held an early-morning meeting with the country's emergency committee in Santiago before travelling to the affected area, flying over the volcano along the way.

Georgia halts executions after lethal drug problemThe US state of Georgia temporarily halted executions Tuesday after the drug used for lethal injections appeared faulty, authorities said. The decision came a day after Georgia delayed for the second time the execution of Kelly Gissendaner, convicted of conspiring to murder her husband, when the execution team found that the lethal pentobarbital dose appeared cloudy. Gissendaner's execution had already been delayed for several days because of wintry weather in the southern state. "Out of an abundance of caution, the scheduled executions of Kelly Renee Gissendaner and Brian Keith Terrell, have been postponed while an analysis is conducted of the drugs planned for use in last night's scheduled execution of inmate Gissendaner," Georgia Department of Corrections spokeswoman Gwendolyn Hogan said.

France says 'strong reaction' needed from West if Minsk deal violated in UkraineFrance said Western powers agreed on Tuesday that a "strong reaction" would be necessary from the international community if a ceasefire in Ukraine agreed last month was violated. The statement from the office of President Francois Hollande came after leaders of France, Britain, the United States, Germany and Italy, as well as the head of the European Council, discussed the Ukraine crisis in a video conference. "They have agreed that a strong reaction from the international community would be necessary in case of a major breach of the process put in place in Minsk," said the statement about the deal signed on Feb 12.

Official: US report finds racial bias in Ferguson policeWASHINGTON (AP) — A law enforcement official tells The Associated Press that a Justice Department investigation has found patterns of racial bias in the Ferguson, Missouri, police department and at the municipal jail and court.